Beam drive



S p 27, 1955 M. E. EBERT 2,718,768

- BEAM DRIVE Filed Jan. 26, 1953 INVENTOR TORNEY 2,718,7 68 BEAM DRIVEMax E. Ebert, Palisades'Park, N; J., assignor to Alfred Hofmann & (30.,West New York, N. .l., a corporation Application January 26, 1953,Serial No. 333,260

s Ciaims. (or. 66-86) machines, has madernandatory, the use of apositive type drive for the'let' off of the beam.

In known beam drives of the positive'type, the warp threads or yarns arefed continuously to the knitting instrumentalities and without anyinterruption during the knitting cycles. It follows, that a" continuous;uninterrupted feed of the threads, limits the possibilities ofvariations in stitch construction of the fabric being formed. A numberofstitch constructions are based on the use of floating or blindstitches. To achieve ,such constructions, the threads are passed throughthe guide bars of the machinewithout the formation of loops. This isonly possible if 'the feed of the warp threads is temporarily halted.Accordingly, these special stitch constructions cannot beformedonconvention'al machines having a continuousbeam drive.

vBlind or floating stitches'are formed when one warp is floating andother warps are knitting, thereby accumulating fabric which ispulledtogether by the floating threads. In this manner, a variety offabrics may be formed which show pleated, buckled and other threedimensional novelty effects. I

In forming these novelty fabrics, it is understood that during thatnumber of the knitting cycles when'the warp' threads float to form theblind stitches, there is no demand for threads from the, beam andaccordingly, the thread feed from the beam must be' temporarilysuspended. For some-stitch constructions of this type, the floatingperiod may extend for as many as 40'knitting cycles. I I I Accordingly,an object'of' this invention is to provide a positively driven beam letoff, wherein the thread feed may be discontinued 'completelyfor apredetermined number of .knittingjcyles, thereby allowing the formationof a predetermined number of blindstitc'hes in ac cordance with thedesiredifabric stitch construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positivelbeamdrive',jwherein the' pa'ttern determining means of the knitting machine,controls theoperation of means for halting the beam drive forapredetermined number of knitting cycles. V i p A, further object ofthis invention-isto provide in abeam drive of the character described,means for automatically adjusting the beam drive as the beam'diametervaries, in order to maintain the-linear speed of the beam let as at asubstantially constant speed. j Yet'another'object of this invention isto provide in a beam drive of the character described, driving meanshaving intermittent actuation, the intervals of actuation being so smallas to provide substantially continuous rotation of the beam/ Yet afurther'object ofthis-invention is to provide a beam drive havingsubstantially continuous actuation,

2,718,768 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 together with means for micrometeradjustment of the actuating means whereby to vary the qualitycharacteristics of the knitted fabric.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a beam drive whichis of rugged construction yet is readily adjusted to insure precisionoperation, which is easily manufactured and installed, which can beeconomically serviced and which is practical and adaptable in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a beam driveembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the ratchet portion of the drive;and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the micrometer adjustment portionof the drive. g The beam drive of the instant invention'comprisesessentially, positive means for rotating the beam such as a ratchetarrangement or other suitable mechanical 7 means interconnecting thebeam drive shaft and a constant speed power shaft such as the cam shaftof the machine, together with means for suspending the operation of theconnecting means for a predetermined number of knitting cycles, thushalting the rotation of the beam; means for regulating the speed of thebeam drive to compensate for the decrease in beam diameter; and meansfor regulating the operation of thebeam drive with micrometer precision.

- Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a beam driveembodying the invention. The same com prises a beam 11, from whichthreads or yarns, not shown, are let off and supplied to the knittinginstrumentalities, not shown of the knitting machine with which the beamis associated. A.worm wheel 12 is fixed to the beam shaft 13 and a worm14 meshes with said worm wheel. The worm 14 is fixed to a beam driveshaft 15 which is mounted for rotation in an upper bearing 16, an intermediate bearing 17 and the horizontal arm of a lower bearing 18having a right angle form.

A bevel gear 19 on the lower end of shaft 15, meshes with a bevel gear-20 fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft 21 which is rotatably mountedi n the vertical arm of bearing 18 and a bearing 22. A plurality ofratchet wheels 23, 24, 25 in side by side relation, are fixed to anintermediate portion of shaft 21 and are arranged so that theirrespective teeth are in staggered relation. The ratchet wheels arerespectively engaged by pawls' 2.6, 27, 28 mounted on a stud 29 which isfixed to the upper end of an arm 30 having a fulcrum portion freelyswingable on shaft 21.

The lower portion 31 of arm 30 is formed with an elongated, rectangularshaped slot 32 which receives a slidable block 33. The arm 30 isoscillated'about shaft 21, through a linkage including a link 34 whichis pivoted at one end on a stud 33a extendingfrom block 33 and ispivotally connected at the other end thereof to.a stud 3Sa extendingfrom a slide block 35 slidably received in a rectangular slot 36 formedin an oscillatory arm 37. The arm 37 is actuated by means of a constantspeed drive shaft, such as the main cam shaft 38 of theknitting machineof which the beam driveis a part, A cam 39 on shaft 38 engages afollower 40 mounted on the upper end of arm 37 which is mounted foroscillation on a stud 37a extending from the knitting machine frame, notshown. The cam 39 is suitably shaped to impart the desired'oscillatorymovement to arm 37 and a. spring 41 secured at one end to the upper endof the arm and suitably anchored at the other end, keeps the follower 40in engagement with the cam.

It will be apparent that the rotary motion of shaft 38 is translatedinto oscillatory motion by means of the arms 37; and connecting link 34,thereby actuating the pawls 26', 27', 28', which in turn rotate theratchet Means is provided for regulating the operation of the driveshaft actuating means so as to. vary the let off. ofthe threads or yarnfrom the beam and thereby determine the quality characteristics of theknitted fabric. To this end,- the position of the slide. block in slot-36 may be adjusted by means of a screw 42. whose. lower portion engagesa vertically threaded portion of the block. A bevel. gear 43 is fixed tothe upper end of screw: 42. and engages a bevel gear 44 fixed: to ahorizontal stud shaft 44av journalledin the arm 37-. A handle 45 on thestud shaft 44a permits micrometer adjustment of the slide block 35 andthereby regulates the throw of the pawls through link 34 and slide block33 on arm 30.

Means is. also provided for. adjusting the feed of the beam let off asthe diameter of the beam decreases with. continued supply of thread tothe knitting instrumentalities. This is accomplished automatically bymeans of a horizontally disposed roller 46 mounted on. the upper end ofan arm 47 of a bell crank 48 fulcrumed at 49. The'roller 46 is urgedinto contact with the periphery of the beam by a spring. 50. attached tothe crank arm 47 and anchored to the machine frame. The other crank arm51 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical link 52, thelower end of which is pivotally connected to slide block 33.

Itwill be apparent that as the beam diameter decreases, as from A to B,roller 46 will move toward the beam: shaft 13, causing crank 48 to pivotin a counterclockwise direction- This will lift the slide block 33upwardly in armslot' 32, through link 52. The position of the arm 30will. be changed relative to shaft 21, due to the change in position ofthe block 33 as from a point x measured from the axis of shaft 21 to apoint y also measured from the same axis. This will produce a'proportionatechange in" the stroke of the pawls so as to increase therotational speed of the beam shaft and thereby maintain the linear speedof the beam let off substantially constant. The arm' 30 should be formedso that the ratio of the distancesx to y is aboutthe same as the. ratioof the maximum beam diameter A' to the minimum beam diameter B.

When knitting fabrics of the type which have blind or floating stitches,the feed of thread or yarns from the beam'must. be suspended for apredetermined number of knitting cycles. Accordingly, there is providedmeans. forv rendering the beam feed inoperative for intervals determinedby the stitch construction of thede: sired fabric. 7 To this end, acurved sheet of metal 53 is positioned over the teeth of the ratchet.wheels by means of an arm 54 of hell crank 55 which is pivotally mountedon shaft 21. v

The other arm 56 of bell crank 55' is pivotally connected to a link 57which is connected to the armature 58 of a solenoid 59. The winding onthe solenoid is connected to a suitable source of current indicated atterminals 60, through a micro switch 61'. The switch arm' 62 is actuatedto its closed. position by cam means in the form of short, arcuatestrips 63 mountedon a pattern wheel 64 which forms a part of theknittingmachine. The cam strips 63 are positioned on wheel 64 so as tocorrespond to the knitting cycles during which the feed of threads fromthe beam is to be suspended.

Upon closing the switch 61, through the cam strips, the solenoid windingis energized, thereby moving the bell crank-in a clockwise direction.The curved metal sheet 53 will be moved to an angular positionwhereinthe teeth of the ratchet wheels will be shielded against engagement bythe pawls. Accordingly the actuatioui of the pawls will be ineffectiveto drive shaft 15 and the beam 1'1 will cease to rotate until such timeas the microswitch 61 is opened when the armature 58 will be retractedby spring means not shown. The bell crank 55 will be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction to move the shield 53 to a position where itwill no longer interfere with the engagement. of the ratchet wheels bythe pawls and the drive of the bea' m will be resumed.

It is understood that the s'wi'mn arm 62 may be actuated by any suitablecam. means related to. the knitting cycles of the machine, such aspattern chains or the like.

It will thus be seen' that there has been-provided a. beam drive inwhich the several objects of the invention have been achieved and whichis well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the inventiondescribed, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment. setforth herein, it is understood that all matter herein shown ordescribed, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described. my invention, I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent:

1. In a knitting machine, a beam, means for. positively rotating said.beam, means for suspending the operation of said beam rotating means fora predeterminednumber of. knitting cycles, and means forv automaticallyactuating. said suspending means at predetermined intervals during theoperation o'f'the machine.

2. In a knitting machine, a beam, adrive shaft for rotating said beam,;a power shaft, pawl and ratchet means connecting said power and driveshafts for imparting intermittent angular movement to said drive shaftand means for automatically rendering said pawl and. ratchetmeansinoperative at predetermined intervals during the operation of themachine.

3. In a machine as in claim; and further including ashield located. overthe teeth of. the ratchet and arranged for angular movement: towards.and away from a position renderingthe pawl inoperative, and means formoving said. shield.

4. In a machine as in. claim 2, andv further including means responsiveto changes the beam diameter for regulating the operation of said. pawliand ratchet arrangemenL- 5. In a knitting machine, a beam. drivecomprising a drive shaft, a. power shaft and clutch means connectingsaid shafts comprising a pair of oscillatable arms, one of said armsbeing arranged for oscillation by said power shaft and being formed witha. slot, ratchetmeans for rotating said drive shaft, pawl means on theother of said. arms for actuating said ratchet. means, said other armbeing formed with a slot, a block. slidably'mou nted in the. slot. ofeach. of saidlar ms, a. link pivotally connecting said blocks andmicrometer means: for adjusting the position; of the block. in theslotof said one arm.

6. In a machine as in claiui 5 I d further including a roller adapted tobear against the periphery of the beam, a bell crank for supporting,said roller, and a link pivotally connecting said bell crank and theblock on said other 7. In a machine as in claim 5, and further includinga shieldlocated over the teeth. of. said ratchet means and angularlymovable towards and. away from a position between said pawl means. and.the teeth ofsaid ratchet means, solenoid means for actuating saidshield, a circuit including said solenoid means: and switch means, andcam means for actuating said. switch means.

8. In a knitting machine, a. beam',: a. drive shaft for rotating. saidbeam, a power shaft, means. connecting said. shafts comprising a pair ofoscillatory arms, a link connecting said arms and movably mountedthereon, driving means connecting; said. drive. shaft: and one of sa d.arms, means for adjusting; the position, of said:

5 relative to the other of said arms, and means for ad- 2,340,889justing said link relative to said one arm in response to 2,400,525changes in beam diameter. 2,400,526

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS524,989 932,337

2,327,747 Sirmay Aug. 24, 1943 6 Klumpp et al. Feb. 8, 1944 Amidon May21, 1946 Amidon May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 25, 1921 FranceNov. 24, 1947

